WO2015185422A1

WO2015185422A1 - Connecting arrangement for connecting a mower knife drive to a reciprocating mower knife

Info

Publication number: WO2015185422A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/061767
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinrich Günter Schumacher; Andreas Roth
Original assignee: Ewm Eichelhardter Werkzeug- Und Maschinenbau Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-06-04
Filing date: 2015-05-27
Publication date: 2015-12-10
Also published as: EP3151651B1; EP3151651A1; AR100728A1; CA2951070C; DE102014107834B4; CN106572634B; US9992929B2; BR112016027970B1; EA201692153A1; CN106572634A; US20170118909A1; TR201808722T4; EA031328B1; DE102014107834A1; HUE038693T2; DK3151651T3; CA2951070A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a connecting arrangement (1) for connecting a mower knife drive to a mower knife (7) that can be moved back and forth along a knife axis (X), said connecting arrangement (1) comprising: a driving element (2) for connecting the connecting arrangement (1) to the mower knife drive, and an output element (3) for connecting the connecting arrangement (1) to the mower knife (7); the driving element (2) and the output element (3) can rotate relative to one another about three mutually perpendicular axes of rotation (X, Y, Z) and can be moved relative to one another along at least two of said axes of rotation (Y, Z).

Description

Connecting arrangement for connecting a mower blade drive with a reciprocating mower blade

description

The invention relates to a connection arrangement for connecting a mower blade drive with a mower blade reciprocating along a blade axis, in particular for agricultural machines, such as e.g. Combine harvester or forage harvester. The connection arrangement has a drive element designed in such a way that, via it, the connection arrangement can be coupled to the mower blade drive. Furthermore, the connection arrangement has an output element configured in such a way that, via it, the connection arrangement can be coupled with a mower, so that the mower blade drive is drive-connected to the mower blade via the connection arrangement.

DE 40 35 528 C2 describes a connection arrangement between a mower blade drive and a linearly reciprocating mowing blade in the case of double knife cutting units of front mowers.

The initiation of the lifting movement takes place via a pivotally moved drive lever and a driving pin connected thereto, which constitutes a connecting element, and a joint connection comprising a further connecting element, which is connected to the mowing blade. The hinge assembly is required because the driving pin is moved by its connection to the drive lever following its pivotal movement on a circular section path. Since the mower blade is guided linearly reciprocating movable, the arrangement must always allow both a pivotal movement of the driving pin to the mower blade connected to the connecting element and an axial adjustment of the driving pin in operation. The connection to the mower blade The first connecting element has a ring-shaped section and a circular-cylindrical bore therein. In this bore a circumferentially closed intermediate ring is received and fixed with its adapted to the bore circular cylindrical outer surface. The intermediate ring has a hollow spherical inner surface. At this hollow-spherical inner surface a circumferentially closed bearing ring is pivotally received with a spherical outer surface. The bearing ring has a circular cylindrical through hole. In this through hole of the driving pin sits along the axis of the through hole slidably to compensate for the resulting from the movement of the driving pin with the drive lever on a circular path change in position to the adjustment axis of the mowing blade can.

However, mower blade drives are also known in which the mowing blade is driven directly linearly reciprocatingly by a gear, as described, for example, in DE 39 31 736 C2 or DE 10 2005 048 766 A1. A drive journal of the transmission moves linearly back and forth and is connected to a drive element of a connection arrangement, so that during the movement with optimum alignment of the transmission and the mowing blade to each other constant relative movements during the driving of the mowing blade are to compensate. However, EP 1 832 154 A1 shows an adjustment possibility which makes it possible to adapt the relative position of the parts to one another during installation. This setting is determined by the bracing of the parts, whereby an easy release for the replacement, for example, the mower blade, remains possible. However, it has been found that due to positional or manufacturing tolerances or deformations during operation when using a Mähmesserantriebs according to DE 39 31 736 C2 or DE 10 2005 048 766 A1 despite the direct linear drive of the mowing blade increased wear due one or more incorrect or oblique positions of the axis of movement of the drive pin of the mower blade drive to the mower blade axis occurs.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a connection arrangement which compensates for positional or manufacturing tolerances between a mower blade drive and a mower blade. The object is achieved by a connection arrangement for connecting a mower blade drive with a mower blade reciprocating along a blade axis, which has a drive element for connecting the connection arrangement to a mower blade drive and an output element for connecting the connection arrangement to a mower blade, wherein the drive element and the output element by means of a compensation arrangement about three, preferably mutually perpendicular axes of rotation are mutually rotatable and along at least two of said axes of rotation are mutually displaceable.

The advantage of the connection arrangement according to the invention is that compensating movements between the movement of the mower blade drive and the mowing blade, based on all degrees of freedom except for the linear reciprocating movement in the direction of the blade axis, are made possible during operation. Accordingly, rotational movements of the drive element and of the output element about all axes of rotation in the Cartesian coordinate system are possible. Furthermore, linear movements along two of the axes of rotation are possible, but not in the direction of the knife axis. For this purpose, it can be provided that the two named axes of rotation, along which the drive element and the output element are displaceable relative to one another, are arranged at right angles to the blade axis.

So that the rotational movements in the individual degrees of freedom can take place independently of one another, it can be provided that a separate bearing is provided for each axis of rotation of the compensation arrangement, via which the drive element and the output element are rotatable relative to one another.

Furthermore, the longitudinal movements to the two degrees of freedom in the longitudinal direction can also be designed independently of one another by the drive element and the output element being displaceable relative to one another via two of the abovementioned bearings.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the compensation arrangement comprises a first joint element and a second joint element, that the output element via a first bearing about a first axis of rotation of said Rotary axes is rotatably connected to the first joint member, that the first joint member via a second bearing about a second axis of rotation of said axes of rotation is rotatably connected to the second joint member and that the second joint member via a third bearing about a third axis of rotation of said axes of rotation rotatably connected to the Drive element is connected.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the first joint element and the second joint element are displaceable relative to one another via the second bearing along the second axis of rotation. In addition, it can be provided that the drive element and the second joint element are displaceable relative to each other via the third bearing along the third axis of rotation.

In order to enable a rotational movement and a linear movement in the second bearing and in the third bearing, these each have a bearing journal and a bearing bore, wherein the bearing journal is rotatably and axially displaceably received in the bearing bore. This can be represented by a sliding bearing or by a rolling bearing.

To simplify the greasing of all bearings, they can have a common lubricant supply. Here, for example, a grease nipple may be provided, which is connected via lubrication channels with all bearings, so that by supplying lubricant through the grease nipple all three bearings can be lubricated. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to the figures. Hereby shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connection arrangement with a

Mower blades;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the connection arrangement according to FIG. 1; a longitudinal section at right angles to the vertical axis of the Verbindungsungsanord- tion according to Figure 1, and

4 shows a longitudinal section at right angles to the blade axis of the connection arrangement according to FIG. 1

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a connection arrangement 1 with a drive element 2 and an output element 3, which are connected to one another via a compensation arrangement 4. The drive element 2 is designed as a drive adapter which can be connected to a drive journal of a transmission, as described, for example, in DE 39 31 736 C2 and DE 10 2005 048 766 A1. The output element 3 is, as shown in Figure 1, connected to a mower blade 7, wherein the mower blade 7 comprises a knife rail 8, on which a plurality of knife blades 9 are attached. Via an aforementioned transmission, the drive element 2 along the axis X, which is also referred to as a knife axis, driven, wherein the drive element 2 performs a reciprocating motion.

Due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances and due to deformations of the individual components during operation, angular deviations between the direction of movement of the drive pin of the transmission and the knife axis X can occur. This means that the knife axis X and the direction of movement of the drive element 2 are not parallel to each other. During operation, tension of the drive and in particular of the mowing blade 7 occurs, so that increased frictional forces and / or bending forces occur which lead to increased wear. When the direction of movement of the drive element 2 is not parallel to the knife axis X, constantly occurring relative movements between the drive element 2 and the output element 3 are to compensate during operation. The compensation arrangement 4 serves this purpose.

The compensating arrangement 4 comprises a first joint element 5 and a second joint element 6. The output element 3 is connected to the first joint element 5 via a first bearing 10. The first joint element 5 is in turn connected via a second bearing 1 1 with the second joint member 6 and the drive element 2 is connected via a third bearing 12 with the second joint element 6.

The first bearing 10 allows rotation of the output element 3 relative to the first joint element 5 about the knife axis X. The first bearing 10, however, keeps the output element 3 axially immovable to the first joint element 5. The first bearing 10 thus has a degree of freedom.

The second bearing 1 1 allows a rotational movement of the first joint member 5 and the second joint member 6 to each other about a longitudinal axis Y, which is arranged perpendicular to the knife axis X and aligned in Mährichtung. The second bearing 1 1 also allows an axial displacement of the first joint member 5 and the second joint member 6 relative to each other along the longitudinal axis Y. The second bearing 1 1 thus has two degrees of freedom. The third bearing 12 allows a rotational movement of the drive element 2 relative to the second joint member 6 about a vertical axis Z, wherein the vertical axis is perpendicular to the knife axis X and on the longitudinal axis Y. In addition, the third bearing 12 enables an axial adjustment of the drive element 2 relative to the second joint element 6 along the vertical axis Z. The third bearing 12 thus has two degrees of freedom.

The compensation assembly 4 thus has five degrees of freedom. Three degrees of freedom allow rotation about all three axes X, Y and Z, which together can also be called the axis of rotation. In addition, two degrees of freedom are provided for displacement along two of the two axes.

For each rotation about one of the axes X, Y and Z, a separate bearing 10, 1 1, 12 is provided, so that each rotational movement about one of the axes X, Y, Z defined by one of the bearings 10, 1 1, 12 is compensated , Two of the bearings serve for the linear movement, so that they are also separated from each other. However, the bearings for the linear movement do not necessarily have to allow a simultaneous rotational movement. It is also conceivable that separate bearings are also provided for the rotational movements and for the linear movements. FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the connection arrangement 1 in a sectional plane which includes the knife axis X and the vertical axis Z. Recognizable are the first bearing 10 and the third bearing 12, wherein the knife axis X, which simultaneously represents the axis of rotation of the first bearing 10, the vertical axis Z, ie the axis of rotation of the third bearing 12, cuts. In addition, the longitudinal axis Y, ie, the axis of rotation of the second bearing 1 1, through the intersection of the knife axis X and the vertical axis Z, so that the entire compensation assembly 4 forms a joint center in this intersection. The first bearing 10 comprises a bearing journal 13, which is provided on the output element 3 and which is rotatably mounted in a bearing bore 14 of the first joint element 5. The bearing pin 13 projects axially from a blade connection section 20 of the output element 3 and is guided through the bearing bore 14. At the end facing away from the blade connection section 20, the bearing pin 13 has a thread 16, onto which a nut 15 is screwed, which is supported axially in the direction of the blade connection section 20 against the first joint element 5. In the opposite direction, the output element 3 is supported via a shoulder 17 axially against the first joint element 5. The bearing pin 13 is in this case slidingly mounted within the bearing bore 14.

For sealing two sealing rings 18, 19 are provided, wherein one of the sealing rings 18 between the first joint member 5 and the driven element 3 is arranged and another of the two sealing rings 19 between the first joint member 5 and the nut 15th

In principle, it is also conceivable that the first joint element 5 has the bearing journal and the bearing bore is provided in the output element 3. As an alternative to plain bearing, other bearings may be provided, such as rolling bearings.

The third bearing 12, which can also be seen in FIG. 4, comprises a bearing journal 21 on the drive element 2 and a bearing bore 22 in the second joint element 6, wherein the bearing journal 21 is rotatably mounted in the bearing bore 22. This is a needle bearing 23. Basically, at this point, another storage, such as For example, a sliding bearing or other rolling bearing, possible. Thus, the bearing pin 21 is rotatable within the bearing bore 22 about the vertical axis Z. The needle bearing 23 also allows an axial displacement of the bearing pin 21 within the bearing bore 22 along the vertical axis Z.

The bearing bore 22 is designed as a blind hole, wherein the bearing bore 22 is sealed by a sealing ring 24 between the second joint member 6 and the drive element 2 to the outside. In principle, it is also conceivable that the second joint element 6 has the bearing journal and the bearing bore is provided in the drive element 2.

The second bearing 1 1 is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The second bearing 1 1 comprises a bearing journal 25 of the second joint element 6 and a bearing bore 26 in the first joint element 5, wherein the bearing journal 25 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis Y and accommodated along this axially displaceable in the bearing bore 26. For this purpose, the bearing pin 25 is slidably mounted in the bearing bore 26. Basically, another storage, such as a rolling bearing, is conceivable here as well. The bearing bore 26 is formed as a blind hole, which is sealed by a sealing ring 27 to the outside, wherein the sealing ring 27 is disposed between the first joint member 5 and the second joint member 6.

Again, it is basically conceivable that the first joint member 5 has the bearing pin and the bearing bore is provided in the second joint member 6.

The third bearing 12 has a needle bearing 23, since the drive element 2 performs a drive by a transmission mentioned above, not only a reciprocating movement along the knife axis X, but also a continuous rotation about the vertical axis Z. The third bearing 12 thus has completely compensate for the rotation of the drive element 2 relative to the second joint element 6. Rolling bearings are particularly suitable for this purpose. All other bearings, so the first bearing 10 and the second bearing 1 1, have to compensate for optimal alignment and adjustment neither rotational movements nor longitudinal movements. Only for those cases where it is too Manufacturing or assembly tolerances or deformation occurs, occur compensating movements in the camps. These movements are either rotary back and forth movements or linear reciprocating movements, so that here slide bearings can be used. The bearings are separated from each other and not, for example, represented by a ball head, since, for example, would not constructively defined when using a ball head, whether the rotation of the drive member 2 about the vertical axis Z of the third bearing 12 and the needle bearing 23 or the ball head is balanced. Due to drag moments within the third bearing 12, it could also lead to rotational movements in the ball head, which can lead to fretting corrosion.

All bearings 10, 1 1, 12 have a common lubricant supply. In the drive element 2, a lubricating nipple 28 is provided, which leads into a radially extending lubrication channel 29. This lubrication channel 29 in turn opens into an axially extending lubricant channel 30, which ends in an end face 31 of the journal 21 and thus leads into the bearing bore 22. Over this the needle bearing 23 is lubricated. From the axially extending lubrication channel 30 branches off again a radially extending lubrication channel 32, which leads to an outer peripheral surface 33 of the journal 21. This radially extending lubrication channel 32 opens between two rows of needles 34, 35 of the needle bearing 23, wherein the two needle rows 34, 35 are arranged along the vertical axis Z in succession. The radially extending lubrication channel 32 is positioned so that it, depending on the axial position of the journal 21 within the bearing bore 22, at least approximately passes over an axially extending lubrication channel 36 during rotation of the drive element 2, wherein the axially extending lubrication channel 36 in the journal 25 of the second Bearing 1 1 is arranged. This axially extending lubrication channel 36 leads to an end face 37 of the journal 25 of the second bearing 1 1 and thus opens into the bearing bore 26 of the second bearing 1 1 to lubricate the sliding bearing between the bearing pin 25 and the bearing bore 26. Through the bearing gap between the bearing pin 25 and the inner peripheral surface 39 of the bearing bore 26 of the second bearing 1 1 lubricant can pass into an annular space 40 which is formed by a circumferential groove 41 in the bearing pin 25 and the inner peripheral surface 39 of the bearing bore 26. Moreover, as shown by way of example in FIG. 3, a helical groove 38 may be provided in the inner peripheral surface 39 in order to be able to move Lubricant from the region of the end face 37 of the journal 25 to the annulus 40 to lead.

The circumferential groove 41 is formed so long in the axial direction that, regardless of the axial position of the journal 25 in the bearing bore 26, the annular space 40 is always in fluid communication with a lubrication channel 42 in the first joint element 5, said lubrication channel 42 to the first bearing 10 leads to be able to lubricate the sliding bearing there. Thus, the lubrication of all three bearings 10, 1 1 and 12 is possible by the introduction of lubricants in only one grease nipple 28.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 connection arrangement

2 drive element

3 output element

4 balancing arrangement

5 first joint element

6 second joint element

7 mower blades

8 knife rail

9 knife blade

10 first camp

1 1 second camp

12 third camp

13 bearing journals (of the first bearing)

14 bearing bore (of the first bearing)

15 mother

16 threads

17 shoulder

18 sealing ring

19 sealing ring

20 blade connection section

21 journals (of the third bearing)

22 bearing bore (of the third bearing)

23 needle roller bearings

24 sealing ring

25 bearing pin (of the second bearing)

26 bearing bore (of the second bearing)

27 sealing ring 28 grease nipples

29 lubrication channel

30 lubrication channel

31 face

32 lubrication channel

33 outer peripheral surface

34 row of needles

35 row of needles

36 lubrication channel

37 face

38 screw groove

39 inner peripheral surface

40 annulus

41 circumferential groove

42 lubrication channel

X knife axis

Y longitudinal axis

Z vertical axis

Claims

claims

1 . Connecting arrangement (1) for connecting a mower blade drive with a mower blade (7) which can be moved back and forth along a blade axis (X), comprising:

a drive element (2) for connecting the connection arrangement (1) with a mower blade drive and

an output element (3) for connecting the connection arrangement (1) to the mower blade (7),

wherein the drive element (2) and the output element (3) by means of a compensation arrangement (4) about three mutually perpendicular axes of rotation (X, Y, Z) rotatable relative to each other and at least two of said axes of rotation (Y, Z) are mutually displaceable.

2. Connecting arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the two said axes of rotation (Y, Z), along which the drive element (2) and the driven element (3) are mutually displaceable, are arranged at right angles to the knife axis (X).

3. Connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized a separate bearing (10, 11, 12) is provided for each axis of rotation (X, Y, Z) of the compensating arrangement (4), by way of which the drive element (2) and the output element (3) are mutually rotatable.

4. Connecting arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive element (2) and the output element (3) via two of said bearing (1 1, 12) are mutually displaceable.

5. Connecting arrangement according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the compensating arrangement (4) has a first joint element (5) and a second joint element (6),

the output element (3) is rotatably connected to the first joint element (5) via a first bearing (10) about a first axis of rotation (X) of said axes of rotation,

the first joint element (5) is rotatably connected to the second joint element (6) via a second bearing (11) about a second axis of rotation (Y) of the said axes of rotation, and

the second joint element (6) is rotatably connected to the drive element (2) via a third bearing (12) about a third axis of rotation (Z) of said axes of rotation.

6. Connecting arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the first joint element (5) and the second joint element (6) via the second bearing (1 1) along the second axis of rotation (Y) to each other displaceable are.

7. Connecting arrangement according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the drive element (2) and the second joint element (6) via the third bearing (12) along the third axis of rotation (Z) are mutually displaceable.

8. Connecting arrangement according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the second bearing (1 1) and the third bearing (12) each have a bearing pin (21, 25) and a bearing bore (22, 26), in which the bearing pin (21, 25) is rotatably and axially slidably received.

9. Connecting arrangement according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that all bearings (10, 1 1, 12) have a common lubricant supply.

10. Connecting arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that a lubricating nipple (28) is provided, which is connected via lubrication channels (29, 30, 32, 36, 42) with all bearings.